g'day my name is ash and i have just taken up the sport. i just live in applex so will be down regulary when i hope to get my gear next weekend.

been flying stunt kites for over 2 years and thought kiteboarding looked fun as so i had a couple of lessons so far (2.5hrs) and really enjoying it, gonna start launching and learning how to ride next, so hopefully i should pick that up pretty quickly over the next 2.5hrs i have left.

i weigh about 85kg & 178cm tall and been advised to start on a 11m kite with 139x41 board. what kind of wind range can this handle? will this set up last me for a while or will i need to upgrade soon after?

also just wanted to know best sort of wind direction for applex. it looks like most of the guys down there head out on an angle and come back in on the same angle so i guess they are riding upwind on a SW? still trying to get my head around that..

and lastly is it worth joining the WAKSA from the start or after i gained a bit of experience and feel comfortable riding in more dangerour areas at higher winds. also does WAKSA have a forum? or is this the main forum forum for WA

If anyone wanted to catch up for a ride im keen.

thanks for the help, n hope to see some of you down there.

Welcome!

Choose your gear to suit your wind... how much wind do you usually get, on average? Local knowledge will help; hopefully, someone will chime in...

Best wind direction is cross-onshore.

It's always my suggestion that you buy a bigger board first; as a beginner you'll need easy riding to get up and learn the basics with a minimum of frustration. Then later, it can either be sold or become your light wind board. Wider is more important than longer for light wind and beginners. If you want a new board, then the Ocean Rodeo Origin is a great board at a great price!

I'm a cynical bastard but I'm betting that the instructor has some gear already selected to sell you...?

I think you'll pick up the skills pretty quickly - I started out flying stunt kites too, then power kites. Depower was another step, but the skills you've learned will help :)

Hi Ash - seen you down there a couple of times

South to South Westerlies are prevailing (seabreeze) at AppleX and suits as not directly onshore or offshore. Anything Easterly head to the beach just east of Point Walter.
Plenty of folk willing to chat and lend a hand. Whilst you learn to stay upwind ,best to stay downwind of the pack (and clear of our windsurfing comrades)

Most drift down towards Majestic Point and then walk back for another go!

11M a good size - maybe compliment with an 8M for strong wind/ocean if and when you get completely hooked (you will) board a bit small for starting but it'll be fine .

Andy

Hi Ash,

Newbie here too. I've learnt at AppleX, Melville Beach Road and Point Walter. Happy to go with you when time suits.

Give me a bell when you head out.

Ash it sounds like you got the addiction brother !! Fantastic !!

My tip : Don't try to over-analyze things .. its a bit like patting your head , rubbing your belly and hopping on 1 leg.... it will just happen after a few times of trying and failing ... When u got the addiction its hard not to over analyze..

PM me when u going down there and I will try to come and meet up for a sesh and see if you doing anything wrong .. im at Applx and Pee Dub whenever there is wind !!

sounds good guys, will dl the app... i think prac is the key.. been out three times after finishing my 4 hrs of lessons .. absolutly loving it! even tho im up the on board probably 30mins out of the 2 hrs haha

Also in a similar newbie situation. Managed to get a quick session in today at Melville and plan on going out tomorrow. Would be awesome if we can get a group down tomorrow. I'm keen as !

hey lads i just started kiting aswell, finished my lessons and pickin my gear up tommorrow, would love some advice from ya's sometime !

What time are you guys heading to AppleX?

yeh, around that time and meeting at the gum tree, im gonna see how i go if i go out cus my legs is still bit sore from a self inflicted kiting injury on sunday... but ill be done there either way see use there :D

sooo been out a few more times with daddycool and got some footage taken so i made it into a short clip with music



cheers,
ash

eibwen said..

Wish I had some one video when I started you will be able to pick up fast on what to tweak with your riding.

Such as, Dick to sky get your hips forward and maybe trim the kite a little so you can get your shoulders back and not have to 1 hand it all the time causing you to stretch out to de power. then you can use some of the extra power you harness to direct it into the board and motor up wind even more.

you definitely right, i am starting to try and push my hips out... actually since then i got the windy & light progression video so next time it will help...

unfortunatly in the second half of the vid my kite was full depowered it was just too windy for the 11m so i had to adopt that kind of stance.

definatly recommend get a friend to video you cus it really helps u spot the errors !

was also lucky enough to have someone fly my kite back upwind for me on one session as well which cut load of time of the walk of shame :)

cheers, taken everything on board, def try to keep kite low now in strong winds, had the kite fully trimed (red pulled all the way), got keep leaning right back think like the other guy who was in the clip towards the end behind me

Hi all,

I've just bought my first set of gear too and looking to head down to applex this weekend if cond's suit. Forecast is looking pretty grim but I have a 12 so will probably just head out for some body draging in low wind if there's anyone around on Sat or Sun arvo to assist with launching. Haven't hit the water for 2 weeks so frothing to get out there!

Hope to see some people down there

Cool will do :)